The Action/Cut Grand Prize Winner: When Jesse Was Born

Grand Prize Winner: When Jesse Was Born Directed by Christopher Petry (Vancouver, Canada)

Synopsis: Explores the turbulent, sometimes painful, and often humorous lives of one blue-collar family as they welcome their third child into their chaotic world. Harold's attempts to provide for his growing family through crime are motivated by the best intentions, but ultimately the worst sort of tragedy hits as he tries to protect his family from a situation he has created.

The Action/Cut Short Film Competition was launched in 2004 due to the many requests from filmmakers and graduates from our Action/Cut Seminars. They kept asking what to do with their short films as there are few fests/competitions devoted to short films, and most of those do not have substantial prize packages to help the winning filmmakers move forward with their careers...which should be the whole point of winning awards and prizes at fests.

The Action/Cut Best Fiction Winner: "The Youth in us"

The Action/Cut Best Fiction Winner: "The Youth in us"Directed by Joshua Leonard (Los Angeles, CA)Synopsis: An innocent yet tragic love story as two young lovers gain courage to confront a painful future by looking to the past for inspiration.

The Action/Cut Short Film Competition was launched in 2004 due to the many requests from filmmakers and graduates from our Action/Cut Seminars. They kept asking what to do with their short films as there are few fests/competitions devoted to short films, and most of those do not have substantial prize packages to help the winning filmmakers move forward with their careers...which should be the whole point of winning awards and prizes at fests.

The Action/Cut Best Animation Winner: "Lor"

The Action/Cut Best Animation Winner: "Lor"Directed by Andy Murdock (San Francisco, CA)Synopsis: A tale of creation myth. Billions of years ago a strange being lands on a young planet and sets up shop with a plan to cover the world with life. His name is LOR. The first human being is born and meets his maker...and all his robot helpers.

The Action/Cut Short Film Competition was launched in 2004 due to the many requests from filmmakers and graduates from our Action/Cut Seminars. They kept asking what to do with their short films as there are few fests/competitions devoted to short films, and most of those do not have substantial prize packages to help the winning filmmakers move forward with their careers...which should be the whole point of winning awards and prizes at fests.

The Action/Cut Best Documentary Winner: "Roosevelt's America"

The Action/Cut Best Documentary Winner: "Roosevelt's America"Directed by Roger Weisberg & Tod Lending (Palisades, NY)Synopsis: After 9/11, most Americans grew more suspicious of outsiders and expressed a growing desire to close our borders impacting on our traditional open door to welcome "the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free." This is a story of a Liberian refugee's inspiring journey against all odds. After being tortured and narrowly escaping execution in Liberia, Rosevelt makes his way to America with his two sons to build a new life for his family. After two years of struggle and sending money to his wife and daughter in Liberia, and after endless immigration obstacles, the family is reunited in Chicago, where they are finally able to enjoy the prosperity and freedom that drew them, as a last hope...to America.

The Action/Cut Short Film Competition was launched in 2004 due to the many requests from filmmakers and graduates from our Action/Cut Seminars. They kept asking what to do with their short films as there are few fests/competitions devoted to short films, and most of those do not have substantial prize packages to help the winning filmmakers move forward with their careers...which should be the whole point of winning awards and prizes at fests.

The Action/Cut Excellence in Digital Filmmaking winner: "Prey Alone"

The Action/Cut Excellence in Digital Filmmaking winner: "Prey Alone"Directed by James Mather & Stephen St. Leger (Dublin, Ireland)Synopsis: An NSA agent is on a determined hunt for an elusive, very dangerous fugitive. His only leads are a reluctant witness held in a military prison and the words "prey alone" in a notebook. Can he track him down and discover the true identity of this mysterious criminal? The chase is on!

The Action/Cut Short Film Competition was launched in 2004 due to the many requests from filmmakers and graduates from our Action/Cut Seminars. They kept asking what to do with their short films as there are few fests/competitions devoted to short films, and most of those do not have substantial prize packages to help the winning filmmakers move forward with their careers...which should be the whole point of winning awards and prizes at fests.

Patagonia promoting environmental activism thru film

Patagonia the innovative outdoor clothing manufacturer, and the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), one of the nation’s most successful grassroots activist groups have joined forces to present the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. More

Sundance Blogging

As the Sundance Film Festival kicks into high gear, Filmfestivals.com Industry Editor Sandy Mandelberger (SM) has an intimate tete-a-tete with Sundance Festival Director Geoffrey Gilmore about this year’s event. Read this article and more interviews, ambiance pieces...Watch our festival coverage from Park City.

Memoirs of a Geisha Interviews

Live from the Santa Barbara premiere: a rare interview of the cast and crew from the movie Memoirs of a Geisha after the hit novel by Arthur Golden.The Director Rob Marshall speaks to the priviledged viewers from filmfestivalsTV.com and Santabarbaraartstv.com

The film adaptation of the novel directed by Rob Marshall and starring Zhang Ziyi was released December 23rd 2005 by Sony. It has cumulated so far a promising $20M from its limited Oscar platform release and last week expansion to 750 prints.

Drabet - Manslaughter in competition at San Sebastian

DRABET (MANSLAUGHTER)A married university lecturer has a relationship with a young girl who is a member of a group of anti-globalisation activists. In an attack on an arms factory the activists kill a policeman by running over him. They all refuse to reveal who was driving the van when it ran over him.The latest film by the director of Inheritance, that won the Jury Award for Best Script at the San Sebastian Film Festival two years ago, it raises highly topical issues and doesn't dodge controversial solutions.

7 Virgins trailer from San Sebastian

7 VIRGENES (7 Virgins) by Alberto Rodríguez competes at San Sebastian festival.For a few hours Tano gets out of the reformatory that he has been placed in to attend his brother José's wedding. This is the time to meet up again with his best friend Richi, with his girlfriend Patri, with his nonagenarian grandmother who lives at home, with the members of his neighbourhood gang... The prospect of going back to the reformatory casts a shadow over everything. Another impressive performance by the unforgettable actor in El bola, in the latest film by the director of El factor Pilgrim and El traje, which were both premiered in Zabaltegi.

Ouar Lordz Fasttrack Animation winner

Ouar Lordz, 2 minutes short animation, directed by Jean- Paul Suau has been selected by a professionnal jury as FastTrack winner 2004-2005 for best animation.Two battle chiefs, Ouar Lordz are fighting against territory, using all kinds of means and weapons untill the moment when their madness destroys their own planet. An animation short film with a short and simple message. more

Blind Spot Fasttrack winner

Blindspot (Fasttrack Winner) has been selected by the FastTrack Jury as 2005 FastTrack winner of the film schools competition organised by Cinergie in partnership with filmfestivals.comView the movie online Know more about the short film more

Jie Beauty Salon in Cannes

Jie Matar, President and Creative Director of Canada’s leading beauty destination, has signed an exclusive agreement with Film Festivals Entertainment Group to provide his signature upscale hair, beauty and makeup services to incoming celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival.

Located at the Majestic Hotel’s 58 Beach Beauty Lounge, Jie and his team have offered the same full-service pampering that has made his Toronto salon the toast of the rich, famous and avant garde in the city and around the world.

Michael Fitzgerald

Exclusive interview from Michael Fitzgerald at the Martinez Beach in CannesMichael Fitzgerald Producer of" The Three Burials" an Luc Besson Europa Corp production talked to us the very dau=y he was presenting his film for the firts time to an audience, ib=n Cannes competition.It won 2 palmes for best screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Peros, 21 Grams...) and best actor for Tommy Lee Jones (also the director)

Véronique Cayla moves from Cannes to CNC

Véronique Cayla, managing director of Cannes film festivals has been appointed by the minister of culture as head of CNC. She will replace Catherine Colonna who joined the government.Véronique was appointed by Gilles Jacob early 2001 and joinded the dream team with Thierry Frémaux, Jérôme Paillard (Cannes Market)She held previous positions with le forum des images, MK2 distribution, a member of the CSA.

Non Stop Film Festival Blog

Filmfestivals.com contributor, local reporter and occasional blogger Gene Grant (www.genegrant.com/blog) announced his intentions to watch the entirety of the "New Mexico Filmmakers' Week," at the Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave. in Nob Hill, from Friday, June 24th to Thursday, June 30th, front to back.

The event is presented by the New Mexico Film Office (www.nmfilm.com) and will feature 47 hours of both shorts and features. All the films are made by New Mexicans and the event is free.

"This is going to be a stout test of will and my love of indie film, but the opportunity is too good to miss? Grant said. "The blog will be a document of the most comprehensive unfolding of New Mexico independent filmmaking to date. There will be real time reviews, some observational musing, and an occasional cry for help, I'm sure. Wish me luck."

Annecy 6-11 june 2005

Once again, the number of films received for selection has exceeded all expectations: 1 622 films created in 63 countries were presented to the selection committees in Annecy from February 22 to March 9. Coming from 32 countries, 208 films make up the official selection, including 173 in competition in the following categories: short and feature films, TV and commissioned films, graduation films and 34 in panorama.Annecy 2005 is spotlighting Canada’s passion for animation with no less than 12 programmes giving an overview of the country’s rich and widely recognised work. Creators who have become international masters of the art like Norman McLaren, Frédéric Back or Co Hoedeman, new talents and the latest creations, and even a voyage around worldwide animation with collections from the Cinémathéque Québécoise will make up this tribute. Finally, animation professionals will be greeted with a new look film Market in answer to their needs. New services and areas are there to be discovered: a salon for buyers, digital screening, a chill out area, hospitality at the Market’s hub, and many new exhibitors…There is also a great programme of conferences. This year organised in collaboration with Christian Jaquemart and René Broca, the conferences cover different techniques (2D, 3D, models, real time) and different markets (cinema, television, video games, Internet)… not forgetting an exceptional conference making-of at the end of the week. There will also be a much awaited online ticket service to help entry to competition screenings and organize visit beforehand. Personalities from animation and other artistic fields will also be taking part in this impressive rendezvous bringing their experience and a new angle to a great animated week… Find out who they are from June 6 to 11.

The District !

The kids of the district grew up in constant rivalling and fights as their Gypsy, Hungarian, Arab, and Chinese families engage in everyday hostility. Yet Richie, the youngest of the Lakatos clan attempts to find a way to pacify the Csorba family, especially their lovely daughter, Jules. As he soon reveals, the way to peace is through money, and that the only way to make money is to have oil. So the kids take a timetrip to the prehistoric age, and create their own oil reserves right under the district. After their return the exploitation of oil begins, radically changing the stance both in the school and in the general criminal environment of the area. And their sudden success draws some unwanted international attention to the district...

Aron Gauder has started his computer animation career at Kosmo Studio. He created "The District ! " first as a mini series for TV2 in Hungary, followed by its movie version in 2004.